Dust collector bag cleaning means



Aug- 9, '1960 N. H. HAMMINK v v 2,948,354

DUST COLLECTOR BAG CLEANING MEANS Filed March 8, 1957 v FIG. vINVENToR.

NLES H. HAMM/NK BYM ATTORNEYS y V. una *La The present invention relates to dust collectors for vacuum sweepers and more particularly to means for cleaning and emptying vacuum cleaner dust collectors.

A general object of the present invention is to provide for ready and convenient removal of the lint and caked dust which tends to adhere to the sides of an ordinary dust collector. Such lint and caked dust tends to clog and States choke the mouth of the dust collector, impairing the Y cleaning action of the vacuum cleaner with which the dust collector is used and making it dicult and unpleasant to thoroughly empty the dust collector.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dust collector having clean-out means permanently associated therewith. Not only is separate storing of this clean-out means unnecessary and misplacing of it apart from the dust collector bag impossible but also the dust collector bag provided with the clean-out means as contemplated by the present invention takes up no more closet space or household storage space than does a dust collector of comparable capacity which is not provided with any clean-out means.

'I'he several objects, advantages and features of the invention noted above are all subservient to the general and obvious purpose of the invention which is to accomplish improvements in design and function of dust collector bags which will tend to stimulate sales of these products and their use by the consuming public. The following description by Way of example of one particular embodiment of the invention will make it possible to better apprehend the more specific objects, advantages and features of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a rear elevation of a dust collector embodying the invention, the dust collector being shown in operative association with a vacuum cleaner.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the collector shown in Figure 1.

A collector provided according to the invention comprises a tubular dust bag generally indicated at 10. The tubular dust bag 10 has a iirst open end 11 terminating in a mouth which is attachable to the dust exhaust of the vacuum cleaner with which the dust collector is to be associated. The open end 11 may be provided with a collar 12 which defines the end mouth and which cooperates with the vacuum cleaner structure to provide a releasable operative connection between the collector bag and the dust exhaust of the vacuum cleaner.

The dust bag 10 has a second closed end 13. This end may comprise a rigid end member 14 whichY is hung or 'lice e at theupper-end of the sleeve 20 opens through the side of the dust bag 10 as illustrated in the drawings. This mouth is preferably provided with a zipper closure which is shown in its open or nearly open position in the drawmgs. Y f

The second or lower end 22 of the sleeve 20 is closed. It is movable within the dust bag 10 to a position adjacent the mouth at the open end of the dust bag. It is stitched, sealed, seamed, stapled or otherwise fixed to a scraping orbrushing member 30. The member 30 may be designated -a cleaning member, and is preferably relatively rigid and is graspable from the interior of the sleeve 20. The member 30 may be provided with bristles 32. member 30 may be rendered capable of being easily grasped from the interior of the sleeve 20 by being arranged to actually extend interiorly of the sleeve walls, as shown. Alternatively, it may merely be vfixed to the exterior of the sleeve 20, the arrangement of the parts be- 4ing such that the scraping member can be grasped through the walls of the sleeve 20 without directly touching the scraping member. For example, the illustrated structure might be modified by eliminating the interior portion 31 of the scraping member 30, the lower end of the sleeve 20 being closed with only the exterior portions of the scraping member 30 being associated with the sleeve in such modification. It would nevertheless be relatively easy in such modification to grasp the scraping member from the interior of the sleeve 20, as by depressing the walls of the sleeve around the scraping member to a slight degree with the fingers whereby a grip on the scraping member through the walls of the sleeve would be alforded.

When the vacuum cleaner with which the dust bag 10 is associated is in use, the zipper at the upper end of the sleeve 20 may be closed. The sleeve 20 and scraper 30 together constitute a clean-out means which is contained within the dust bag and is permanently associated therewith. This clean-out means does not have to be stored. separately and it cannot be misplaced apart from the 'dust bag itself. A vacuum cleaner provided with the dust collector contemplated by the present invention takes up; no more closet space or other household storage space than does a vacuum cleaner provided with a dust collector of comparable capacity which does not have a clean-out means.

When it is desired to clean out the dustcollector, the dust bag 10 is removed from the associated vacuum cleaner, the upper end of the sleeve is opened, the hand is slipped through the sleeve to grasp the scraper 30 at the lower end of the sleeve, and lint and caked dust are scraped or brushed from the mouth of the dust bag 10, making .it easy to thoroughly empty the contents of the dust bag.

The description of an embodiment of the invention has been given above by way of example. Other embodiments may be provided which diifer in details from that described above. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not restricted by all the details of the described embodiment. The scope of the invention is dened in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Dust collectorl means for vacuum cleaners comprising a porous tubular dust collector bag for filtering the dust out of dust-laden air exhausted by a vacuum cleaner while allowing the air to pass, said bag having a rst open bag end terminating in a iirst mouth defined by a collar and also having a second closed bag end, a flexible sleeve having aV iirst sleeve end terminating in a second mouth which opens' through the side of said tubular dust collector bag, said sleeve having a second closed sleeve end normally positioned within said dust collector The '.bag and movable to a position adjacent said iirst mouth,

.a cleaning member 'lxed to said second closed sleeve end vand graspable from the interior of said sleeve upon insertion of the hand into the sleeve from the exterior of said dust collector bag.

v 2. Dust` collector means for Vvacuum cleaners cornprising a porous tubular dust collector bag for filtering the dust out of dust-laden air exhausted by a vacuum cleaner while allowing the air to pass, said bag having a first open bag end. terminating in, a rst mouth defined by a collar and also having a second closed bag end, a ilexible sleeve having a flrst sleeve end terminating in a second mouth which opens through the side of said tubular dust collector bag, a zipper closure for said second mouth, said sleeve having a second closed sleeve end normally positioned within said dust collector bag and movable to a position adjacent said irst mouth, a cleaning member fixed to said second closed sleeve end and graspable from the interior of said sleeve upon insertion of the hand into the sleeve from the exterior of said dust collector bag.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,801,193 Darst Apr. 14, 1931 2,060,776 Bender Nov. 10, 193,6

2,216,249 Nelson Oct. 1, 1940 2,297,835 Levengood Oct.,6, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 611,252 Germany Mar. 25, 1935 

